Mobile concrete mixer with foldable filler unit

ABSTRACT

A mobile concrete mixer, self-contained and towable by an automobile or other vehicle, is provided with a filler unit which enables the mixer to be filled from the same facilities as large commercial mixer trucks. The filler unit includes a funnel with an elongated neck which, in upright filling position, leads into the mouth of the mixer barrel when the mixer is positioned under an overhead filling facility. When not in use and during transportation, the filler unit folds on top of the mixer barrel, locking means being provided to hold the unit in both positions.

- United States Patent [72] lnventor Alfred L. 2,331,037 /1943 McMillan 259/164 Escondido, Calif. 2,398,549 4/1946 Murphy 259/164 [21] A ppl. No. 878,322 3,502,306 3/1970 Beardsley 259/161 Flled 1969 Primary Examiner--Robert W. Jenkins Patented Apr. 27, 1971 {m0 C IR B [73] Assignee Lyco Manufacturing, Inc. mey at Escondido, Calif.

[54] MOBILE CONCRETE MIXER WITH FOLDABLE FILLER UNIT 8C gFlgs' I ABSTRACT: A mobile concrete mixer, self-contained and [52] US. Cl 1159/1164, rowable by an automobile or other vehicle, is provided with 3 259/177 filler unit which enables the mixer to be filled from the same [51] IIPLC] 828C 7/04 facilities as large commercial mixer trucks The filler unit Field ofSearcln 259/164, i l d a f n l ith an elongated ngck which, in upright 165, 167, 162, 175, 176, 177, 30 filling position, leads into the mouth of the mixer barrel when the mixer is positioned under an overhead filling facility. [56] Refemnces Cited When not in use and during transportation, the filler unit folds UNITED STATES PATENTS on top of the mixer barrel, locking means being provided to 2,267,801 12/1941 Peters 259/ hold the unit in both positions.

2 5 I 1 as 32 /|0 I4 30 .IHI

MOBILE CONCRETE MIXER WITH FOLDABLE FILLER UNIT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Small mobile concrete mixers in present use, such as used by equipment rental agencies, are usually filled by hand with the materials to be mixed at the location where the concrete is to be used. This involves considerable labor, and time must be allowed for the materials to mix. Since rental equipment is often used by amateurs, the mix may not be properly proportioned for the particular application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The filler unit is mounted on a mobile concrete mixer of the type which can be towed by an automobile or other vehicle. A self-contained motor and drive system powers the rotatable mixer drum for in-transit mixing, the drive being reversible to expel mixed concrete from a spout as required. The filler unit is mounted above the mixer barrel clear of the operating positions for handling the mixer, and is folded down when not in use. For filling the mixer barrel, the filler unit is swung to an upright position and comprises a neck with a delivery chute which fits into the mouth of the barrel. The neck extends upwardly and has a wide funnel at the top at a suitable height for positioning under an overhead supply facility, as used to fill large commercial mixer trucks. This enables the mix to be properly proportioned by the existing equipment and avoids the necessity of loading and mixing at the location of use. Labor, costs and time are thus minimized. For security while filling and in transit, a simple locking device is used to hold the filler unit in operating and stored positions.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a concrete mixer with a filler unit enabling the mixer to be filled from existing commercial facilities.

Other objects and many advantages of this invention will become more apparent upon a reading of the following detailed description and an examination of the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate like parts throughout and in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a concrete mixer, with the filler unit in stored position.

, FIG. 2 is a partial side elevation view, with the filler unit in filling position.

FIG. 3' is an end elevation view as taken from the left side of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The concrete mixer comprises a chassis mounted on suitably sprung wheels 12 and having a tow bar 14, for connection to a towing vehicle. A mixer barrel 16 is mounted on chassis 10, the barrel having a closed end 18 and tapering to a reduced diameter mouth 20, the axis of the barrel being inclined with the mouth raised at therear of the chassis. Bearings 22 support the barrel adjacent the mouth, the closed end of the barrel being supported and driven by a power unit 24 secured to the chassis. The mounting and drive means are conventional and can vary in detail, the'configurationshown being typical.

Fixed below and fitting around the mouth is an arcuate troughlike collector 26, having a downwardly projecting nozzle 28. Attached to the lower end of nozzle 28 is a spout 30 for directing concrete where required, the spout being pivotal on hinges 32 to swing upwardly behind the collector 26 when not in use, as in the broken line position in FIG. 1. The spout arrangement can also vary to suit particular requirements. The barrel I6 contains spiral blades or similar means, not shown,

to mix theconcrete whenthe barrel is rotated, and to expel the mix into the. collector26-when rotation is reversed, the structure and operation'being well known.

Filler unit 34 comprises a cylindrical neck 36, on one end of which is a wide funnel 38, the other end having a delivery chute 40 inclined to extend into mouth 20, when the neck is in upright position at the rear of the barrel. The filler unit is mounted on a platform 42 supported above barrel 16 by legs 44, which extend upwardly from chassis I0 and straddle the barrel. Fixed to neck 36 adjacent the chute 40 is a yoke 46, having legs 48 which are pivotally attached to brackets 50 on the rear portion of platform 42. The filler unit swings on hinge pins 52 in a generally vertical plane parallel to the axis of barrel 16. Yoke 46 has a cross bar 54 which, in the upright position shown in FIG. 2, rests on an extended stop portion 56 of platform 42. Diagonal braces 58 are fixed between the hinged ends of legs 48 and the neck 36 rests in a cradle 60 extending upwardly from the forward portion of platform 42.

The filler unit is secured in place by a locking bar 62 which is slidable, substantially parallel to neck 36, through a bracket 64 fixed to and extending outwardly from one leg 48 of the yoke 46. On one of the forward platform legs 44 is an upwardly projecting retaining plate 66 having anopening 68 through which locking bar 62 fits when the filler unit is lowered. A short distance from the end of the locking bar is a fixed stop collar 70, which limits penetration of the locking bar through opening 68. Any suitable securing means, such as a retaining pin 72, can be used to hold the locking bar in retaining plate 66, to prevent displacement in transit. For locking the tiller unit in upright position, the other end of the locking bar has a threaded portion 74 which screws into a threaded socket 76 fixed on chassis 10. In this position the stop collar 70 rests on top of bracket 64 and holds the bracket down on stop portion 56, as in FIG. 2.

For convenience a water tank 78 is mounted on platform 42, with a spigot 80 conveniently positioned to withdraw water, for adding to the mix or washing the barrel after use. This facilitates use of the mixer in locations where services and materials are not available.

Commercial facilities used for loading large commercial transit-mix trucks usually have overhead delivery means to dump the required proportions of mix into the mixing barrel. The delivery outlets are too high to accommodate small mixers without rigging chutes or other means, which would interfere with filling of large trucks. By the addition of the filler unit, the small mixer can utilize existing facilities for rapid, properly proportioned loading.

Iclaim:

1. In a mobile concrete mixer having a roadable chassis with means for towing by a vehicle, and a driven rotary mixing barrel mounted on said chassis with a rearwardly opening mouth, the improvement comprising,

a filler unit having a tubular neck with a funnel on one end thereof and a delivery chute on the other end,

said filler unit being pivotally mounted above said barrel to swing in a substantially vertical plane, between a stored position along the top of the barrel and an upright filling position with said funnel directed upwardly and said chute directed into said mouth.

2. A concrete mixer according to claim I and including locking means on said filler unit for holding saidunit in either of said positions.

3. A concrete mixer'according to claim 1 and including a platform, leg structure on said chassis supporting said platform above said barrel, said filler unit being hinged on said platform.

4. A concrete mixer according to claim 3, wherein said neck has a yoke fixed thereon, said platfon'n having brackets to which said yoke is pivotally attached.

5. A concrete mixer according to claim 4, wherein said platform has an extended stop portion on which said yoke rests in thefilling position of the filler unit.

6. A concrete mixer according to claim 5 and including a cradle on said platform in which said neck rests in the stored position of the filler unit'.

8. A concrete mixer according to claim 7, wherein said chassis has a threaded socket thereon, said locking bar having a threaded end engageable in said socket in the filling position of the filler unit. 

1. In a mobile concrete mixer having a roadable chassis with means for towing by a vehicle, and a driven rotary mixing barrel mounted on said chassis with a rearwardly opening mouth, the improvement comprising, a filler unit having a tubular neck with a funnel on one end thereof and a delivery chute on the other end, said filler unit being pivotally mounted above said barrel to swing in a substantially vertical plane, between a stored position along the top of the barrel and an upright filling position with said funnel directed upwardly and said chute directed into said mouth.
 2. A concrete mixer accordIng to claim 1 and including locking means on said filler unit for holding said unit in either of said positions.
 3. A concrete mixer according to claim 1 and including a platform, leg structure on said chassis supporting said platform above said barrel, said filler unit being hinged on said platform.
 4. A concrete mixer according to claim 3, wherein said neck has a yoke fixed thereon, said platform having brackets to which said yoke is pivotally attached.
 5. A concrete mixer according to claim 4, wherein said platform has an extended stop portion on which said yoke rests in the filling position of the filler unit.
 6. A concrete mixer according to claim 5 and including a cradle on said platform in which said neck rests in the stored position of the filler unit.
 7. A concrete mixer according to claim 6, and including a bracket on said yoke, a locking bar slidable in said bracket, and a retaining plate fixed on said leg structure with an opening to receive said locking bar in the stored position of the filler unit.
 8. A concrete mixer according to claim 7, wherein said chassis has a threaded socket thereon, said locking bar having a threaded end engageable in said socket in the filling position of the filler unit. 